Bahrain towns to get $5.3m facelift

Manama, January 2, 2011

Eight towns and villages in the Northern Governorate of Bahrain could be in line for a BD2 million ($5.3 million) revamp as a part of a pioneering initiative.

Those in the list include Jidhafs, Abu Saiba, Janusan, Al Murkh, Al Jasra, Al Qurayah and Karzakan. Hamad Town has also been chosen for a second phase of revamp, however, due to instances of vandalism it has been put on hold.

The Northern Municipal Council is trying to pressurise the government to inject the funds into the scheme to pay for projects planned for this year and next year.

Council chairman Ali Al Jabal claimed that Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi had promised to provide funds to help rescue the scheme, but did not disclose the amount.

"We have to announce our revamp plans, if we want to receive the BD2m funding from the government," he said. "Our revamp will start in Al Murkh and Jidhafs and then continue in the seven other villages and towns."

"Hamad Town is included in the list for the second phase of revamp. It may see them and it may not with the new string of vandalism, with others from the 28 areas on our waiting list possibly replacing it."

Al Jabal, who is one of three area councillors for Hamad Town, said that the scheme launched in May 2009 had managed to achieve a lot thanks to contributions from the public sector, which helped fund projects in selected villages.-TradeArabia News Service